Tubular transit apparatus.



. Patentad Marjl2, |901. W. A. H. BGARDUS. TUBULR TRANSIT APPARATUS.

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llllllllllllllllllllllll No. 669,892. i Patented Mar. I2, |90l.

` l W.- A. l-I.` OGARUUS.

TUBULAR TRANSIT APPARATUS.

` (ppxicaci'onmeaoct. 2a 1900. (no raquel.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 669,892. Patented mar'. l2, |901.

wi A,j H. BuGAnuus. TUBULAR TRANSIT APPARATUS. (Applicntion tiled Oct. 23, 1900;

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

ma nomas vn'cns oo. Yumahwu. wnsmnsrm. u. c.

WASHINGTON A. IAI. BOGARDUS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TU BU LAR TRANSIT APPARATUS.

'SPECIFICTION forming' par/t Of Letters :Patent No., 669,892. dated. March 12, 1901.

Application tiled October Z3, 1900 Serial No. 34,004:- (No model-l T0 all whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, WASHINGTON A. H. Bo- GARDUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvemen ts in Tubular Transit Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in sending or despatching apparatus for tubular transit systems, though I may apply the prineiple herein set forth to other tubular despatch machinery, such as receivers, dac.; and the herein-described invention consists of sundry cooperating parts, which are controlled by a valve mechanism, whichin turn is actuated bythe movement of a lockingbolt working in conjunction with one or more gates; and the object of my invention is to provide an efficient machine of simple and durable construction and of improved design, rendering the same more easily operated and safe and positive in its consecutive operations. I attain this object in the machine illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a sendingchamber constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation; Fig. 3, a detail section of the locking-bolt and its valve; Fig. 4, a detail of trip-finger valve; Fig. 5, a sectional view of upper-gate-operating cylinder; Fig. 6, a sectional detail of a ti ine-interval mechanism Fig. 7, a detail section of lower gate and housing and carriersupporting bolt', and Fig. 8 a detail of gatevalve-operating piston and cylinder.

Referring to the drawings, l is the operating-table on which the carrier is manipulated.

2 is the outgoingr transit-pipe, which with my machine needs to but take an angle of forty-five degrees from the horizontal, thus greatly facilitating the installation of the sending-machine, requiring less bend in the transit-pipe and requiring less space in which to install said machine. l

3 is the sending-chamber, which is provided with an upper gate 4- and a lower gate 5.- rlhe upper gate 4, sliding in guides, is connected by a rod 6 with a piston 7, working in a cylinder 8. The gate 4 is further provided with a hand-lever 9, pivoted to a stationary part ofthe machine and pivoted to the gate 4 or rod 6, which lever serves as a means for closing gate 4. A pipe 10 leads from the cylinder 8 at the extreme righthand end thereof, and another pipe ll leads from said cylinder adjacent the left-hand end thereof. Between the pipe 1l and the left-hand end of the cylinder 8 a series of exhaust-ports 12 through the walls of said cylinder are provided. In the left-hand end of the cylinder pin-Valve 13 is threaded, adapted to regulate the cushion between ports l2 and the end of the cylinder 8. The lower gate 5 is connected by a piston-rod 14, which passes through the gate-housing 15, with a piston 16 working in a cylinder 17. The cylinder 17 is provided with a valve-housing 1S, in which a valve (not shown) similar to those in common use works and admits air-pressure from any suitable source, preferably from the line-pressu re supply through a pipe 24 to the left-hand side of the piston 16, holding the gate 5 closed when the valve is in its left-hand position and at the same time exhausting the air from the right-hand side, and admits air-pressure to the right-hand side of the piston 16 and exhausts from the left-hand side when the valve is in its right-hand position to open gate 5. The valve-stein 19 ofsaid valve passes through the casing 18 and carries a piston 20, rigidly attached thereto, which piston 20 Works in a cylinder 2l. piston 20, valve-stem 19, and the valve in casing 18 in their right-hand position, admitting air under pressure to the left-hand side of piston 16 and holding gate 5 normally closed. A pipe 23, leading from port 25 of the time mechanism shown in Fig. 6, enters the eX- treme left-hand end of cylinder 2l. These gates 4 and 5 and their mechanisms are placed at right angles across the pipe which forms the sending-chamber 3; but said chamber 3 and the pipe 2, leading therefrom, are inclined at an angle ot' about forty-five degrees from the vertical. 4

A locking-bolt 29 is mounted to slide longitudinally in a bracket 30, and the casting 3l, between the gates and this rod 29, is adapted to lock one gate simultaneously with the releasing of the other consequent upon its being somewhat longer than the distance between the inner faces of the two gates. Upon this bolt 29 and preferably forming a part A spring 22 normally holds the IOO thereof is formed a valve-piston 38, having an annular recess 39, which recess is adapted to open communication between a port 33, leading from a pipe 32, leading from the air-pressure supply of the line, and a portl 34, leading to a port 35, leading into the chamber 3 when the bolt is in its upper position, locking gate 4 and opening communication between the said port 34 and a port 36, connecting with an exhaust-pipe 37 when the said bolt 29 is inits lowerposition, locking gate 5. A spring 77, seated on the lower portion of the casting 31 and bearing against the bottom of the valvepiston 38, normally tends to hold the bolt 29 and valve-piston 38 in their upper position, locking gate 4. A piston 39 is fast on bolt 29 and works in a cylinder 40. A pipe 41 leads from the upper extreme portion of the cylinder 40 to a pipe 42.

Just without the gate a lantern-casting 43 is placed in the pipe 2, which lantern-castsupply 45. Also without the gate 5 and within an extension of the lantern-casting 43 is jou rnaled a shaft 46, which carries a trip-finger 47, as is usual in machines of this character. The outer end of the shaft 46 is providedwith a crank portion 48, having a pin 49, on which pin 49 a spring-pawl 50 is pivoted. A spring 51 normally seats the spring-pawl 50 on the crank portion 48. The spring-pawl 50 has a cam-surface 52. The shaft 46 is provided with a spring (not shown) to normally hold the same in a position such that the trip-iinger 47 will project into the path of a passing carrier, as is usual and will be fully understood. Adjacent said spring-pawl is mounted a valve-casting 53, in which a valve-piston 54 works. The valve-piston 54 is provided with two annular recesses 55 and 56 and a projecting portion 57. When the valve-piston 54 is in its right-hand position, the recess 55 opens communication between a port 58, leading to the pipe 27, and a port 59, leading to a pipe 60, and the recess 56 opens communication between a port 61, leading to the pipe 42, and an exhaust-port 64. When the valve-piston 54 is in its left-hand position, the recess-55 opens communication between the port 58 and an exhaust-port 65 and the recess 56, between the port 6l and a port 62, leading to a pipe 63. The left-hand end of the casting 53 is closed and forms a cylinder in which the valve-piston 54 works. The pipe 11 enters this cylinder. The pipe 63 leads to the lantern-casting 43. The pipe `nular recess 69, which opens communication I between the ports 25 and 26 when the pistonrod 66 is at its lower position. The piston 67 and rod 66 are raised by air-pressure admitted below the piston 67 from pipe 28, which pipe is connected with pipe 42. Pipe 10 is connected with pipe 42. Pipe l1 is connected with valve-casing 53.

A guide 70 is provided at the entrance of the chamber 3 to facilitate the insertion of a carrier.

In the gate-housing 15 of t-he gate 5 is mounted to slide longitudinally in a bearing 71 and an aperture in the wall of the chamber 3 a bolt 76, having collars 72 and 73 fast thereon. When the gate 5 is entirely closed, a projection 74, which may be, as shown in Fig. 7, the pin connecting the gate with the rod 14, engages the collar 72 and with the last closing movement of the gate forces the bolt 76 some distance within the chamber 3. Upon the last opening movement of the gate 5 the projection 74 engages the collar 73 and withdraws the projecting portion of the bolt 76 from the chamber 3. A spring 75 is provided to normally hold the bolt projecting within the chamber 3.

The operation-of the machine is as follows: The operator inserts a carrier in the chamber 3 and closes gate 4 by means of lever 9. The bolt 29 immediately springs up behind gate 4,1ocking the same under the influence of spring 77. As the bolt 29 springs up pressure is admitted from pipe 32 through recess 39 and port 35 to chamber 3, balancing the line-pressure beneath gate 5. When the carrier was inserted in chamber 3, it slid down until it rested on bolt 76 and in this position does not bear on gate 5. At the same time pressure is admitted to chamber 3 through port 35. Said pressure passes from port 35 through pipe 60, through recess 55 and pipe 27 through the time-lock, which will be open if the time limit has passed, and on through pipe 23 to cylinder 21, throwing piston 20 and the valve in casing 18 to the left, opening gate 5. When gate 5 is entirely opened, the bolt 76 will be withdrawn and the carrier will drop through gate 5, throwing trip-finger 47 and passing ports 4 4, when the air-pressure will issue from ports 44 behind it and send it on its way in pipe 2. The throwing up of tinger 47 will turn the shaft 46, pulling springpawl 50 under and past projection 57 of the valve-piston 54, and the return of the shaft to its normal position by its spring will throw the cam-surface 52 of the pawl 50 against the projection 57 of the valve-piston 54 and further movement of the same will throw valvepiston 54 to its left-hand position, exhausting the air from cylinder 2l through pipes 23 and 27, recess 55, and exhaust-port 65 and allow spring 22 to return the valve in casing 18 to its normal position, closing gate 5, the projection 74 throwing bolt 76 within the chamber 3. At the same time pressure from lantern-casting 43 flows through pipe 63, recess 56, pipe 42, and pipe 28 to cylinder 68, throwing up piston 67 and piston-rod 66 and setting the time mechanism in motion, which cuts off pipe 27 from cylinder 2l and prevents the Working of valve in casing 18 until the time limit is up and the piston-rod 66 has again fallen. At the same time pressure passes from pipe 42 through pipe 4l to cylinder 40, throwing down piston and bolt 29, providing that gate 5 has closed entirely; but if gate 5 has not closed the bolt 29 will merely press against the surface of the gate 5 and will not unlock the gate 4 until the gate 5 is closed and it can lock gate 5, thereby unlocking gate 4 and exhausting chamber 6 through port 35, recess 39, and pipe 37. At the same time pressure passes from pipe 42 through pipe 10 to cylinder 8 and will act on piston 7 and open gate 4 if gate 5 has been entirely closed, but not before. As the piston 7 in opening gate 4 traverses the cylinder 8 and as the last portion of the movement is taking place, it uncovers the pipe 1l and allows the pressure which is forcing it back to continue through pipe l1 to valve-casing 53, throwing valve.- piston 54 back to its normal position, exhausting all the parts fed by pipe 42 through exhaust-port 64, which will allowthe spring 77 to force the bolt 29 against the under surface of the gate 4, ready to spring int-o position when the gate is closed again and will again open communication between pipes 60 and 27, so that pressure when it is applied in port 35 will again have free access to cylinder 2l and the cycle is complete. The spring 75 is provided to throw the bolt 76 into the chamber 3 and prevent its being withdrawn during the opening of gate 5 and before the nal movement is reached.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details and construction of my device Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with a reciprocating gate of a lockingbolt therefor and a Valve actuated by said bolt, substantially as described.

2. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with a gate of a locking-bolt therefor and a reciprocating valve rigidly connected to said bolt, substantially as described.

3. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with two gates of a locking and releasing bolt therefor and a valve actuated by said bolt, substantially as described.

4. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with two gates of a locking and releasing bolt therefor and a reciprocating valve rigidly connected to said bolt, substantially as described.

5. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with two gates of a locking-bolt for said gates adapted in one position to lock one gate and actuate mechanism for opening the other gate, substantially as described.

6. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with two gates, of a locking-bolt for said gates adapted t-o simultaneously lock one gate and actuate mechanism for producing the succeeding functions of the cycle of operation, substantially as described.

7. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with a reciprocating gate of manual closing mechanism and automatic opening mechanism, substantially as described.

8. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with a reciprocating gate of manual closing mechanism and pneumatic opening mechanism,r substantially as described.

9. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination wi th a gate of manual closing mechanism consisting of ahand-lever and pneumatic opening mechanism consisting of a piston connected with said gate and a cylinder for said piston, substantially as described.

10. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with a gate and a hand-lever for closing said gate, of a piston connected with said gate, a cylinder for said piston, a pressureinlet in said cylinder adjacent said gate, exhaust-ports in said cylinder an air-cushion in the outer end of said cylinder, a pin-valve for said air-cushion and an outlet-pipe in said cylinder adapted tobe uncovered by said piston at the end of the stroke of the same and to connect through said cylinder with said inlet, substantially as described.

ll. In tubulartransit apparatus, the combination with two gates, a sending-chamber, manual closing and pneumatic opening mechanisms for one of said gates, pneumatic operating mechanism for theotherof said gates and an air-pressure.supply of a locking and releasing bolt for said gates adapted to simultaneously lock one and release the other of said gates, pneumatic means for moving said bolt in one direction, spring means for moving said bolt in its other direction, a valve actuated by said bolt to admit air-pressure to said sending-chamber when said bolt is moved by said spring means and to exhaust said chamber when moved by said pneumatic means, a trip-linger-actuated valve, a trip-finger for throwing said valve to one position and pneumatic means for throwing said valve toits other position, said trip-iinger-actuated valve adapted to admit air-pressure from said sending-chamber to said pneumatic gate-operating mechanism and exhaust air-pressure from said pneumatic opening mechanism and said bolt-moving pneumatic means when in said last-mentioned position and admit air-pressure from said air-pressure supply to said pneumatic opening mechanism and said boltmoving pneumatic means and exhaust airpressure from said gate-operatin g mechanism when in said first-mentioned position, substantially as described.

12. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with a sending-chamber and a gate locking and releasing bolt of a'valve actuated by said bolt adapted to admit line-pres- IOO IIS

at all other times, substantially as described.

14. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with an entrance-gate, an exit-gate, pneumatic opening mechanism for said entrance-gate, a locking and releasing bolt for said gates, pneumatic operating mechanism for said bolt adapted to withdraw said bolt from said entrance-gate and release the same and to lock the exit-gate, ot a trip-finger valve adapted to simultaneously admit air-pressu re to said bolt-operating mechanism and said entrance-gate-opening mechanism, substan-' tially as described.

15. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with a sending-chamber and an exitgate therefor, of a carrier-supporting bolt projecting within said chamber and contacting members upon said gate and bolt adaptedto contact and withdraw said bolt from said chamber upon the complete opening of said gate, substantially as described.

16. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with a sending-chamber and an exitgate therefor, of a carrier-supporting bolt adapted to be projected within said chamber, contacting members upon said bolt, and a contacting member on said gate adapted to engage with said contacting members on said bolt to project said bolt within-said chamber on the completion of the closing of said gate and to withdraw said bolt from said chamber on the completion ot the opening of said gate, substantially as described.

17. In tubular transit-apparatus, the combination with a sending-chamber, and anexitgate therefor, of a carrier-supporting bolt adapted to be projected within said chamber, a lug on said gate, a spring normally holding said bolt projecting within said chamber and a collar on said bolt adapted to be engaged by said lug and the bolt withdrawn from said chamber by the completing of the opening movement ot said gate, substantially as described.

18. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with a trip-tinger-actuated Valve and a trip-iinger, of a projecting member on said valve, a crank on said trip-finger, a springpawl seated on said crank, a cam-surface onesaee for placed between and being longer than the distance between the inner faces of said gates, automatic means for operating said bolt in one direction and pneumatic means for operating said bolt in its other direction and a valve operated by said bolt for admitting or exhausting air to or from the tube between said gates, substantially as described.

20. In tubular transit apparatus, two gates, one of said gates provided with a hand-lever for operating the same, a locking-bolt adapted to automatically lock said gate when said gate is closed and at the same time release said other gate, substantially as described.

21. In tubular transit apparatus, an entrance and an exit gate, said entrance-gate provided with manual closing means, a locking-bolt adapted to automatically and simultaneously lock said entrance-gate when the same is closed, release said exit-gate and actuate mechanism for opening said exit-gate, a trip-finger Without saidexit-gate for actuating mechanism `for closing said exit-gate, locking the same and opening said entrancegate, and mechanism actuated by the opening of said entrance-gate for restoring said mechanism actuatedby said trip-linger to its normal condition, substantially as described.

22. In tubular transit apparatus, an entrance-gate, manual closing means for said gate, pneumatic opening means for said gate, an exit-gate, pneumatic operating means for said exit-gate, a locking-bolt adapted to simultaneously lock one and release the other of said gates, means 'normally tending to cause said bolt to lock the entrance and release the exit gate, pneumatic means for reversing the action of said bolt, a valve actuated by said bolt, a trip-finger valve, a tripinger tor actuating said trip-finger valve in one direction, pneumatic means for actuating said trip-finger valve in its other direction, a sending-chamber, said lock-bolt-actuated valve adapted to admit air-pressure from the line to said sending-chamber when said bolt locks the entrance-gate and exhaust air-- pressure from said sending-chamber when said bolt locks the exit-gate, said trip-finger valve adapted to admit air-pressure from said sending-chamber to said eXit-gate-operating means and exhaust the entrance-gate and locking-bolt pneumatic moving means when in one position and admit air-pressure from the line to said entrance-gate and lockingbolt pneumatic moving means and exhaust the eXit-gate-operating means when in its other position and means actuated by the opening of the entrance-gate for admitting air-pressure to the trip-nger-valve pneumatic moving means, substantially as described.

23. In tubular transit apparatus, the combination with pneumatic entrance-gate-opening means,pneu matic locking-bolt-moving means and pneumatic eXit-gate-operating means, of a trip-finger Valve adapted to admit airpressure from a sending-chamber to said pneumatic exit gate operating means and IOO 1o for moving said trip-finger valve to its latter position and pneumatic means for moving said trip-nger Valve to its former position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of I5 two subscribing Witnesses.

WASHINGTON A. H. BOGARDUS. Witnesses:

GEORGE G. POWELL, LLOYD CoLLIs. 

